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S 413

Relates to the resolution of certain claims by certain employees

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 15 co-sponsors

Massachusetts' Andrew's Law requires schools to include fentanyl risk education - warning signs, overdose response, naloxone use, and resources for students, families, and staff.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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Bill Summary · S 413

Bill Summary — S.413 (Andrew’s Law)

Title: An Act to save lives through increased fentanyl awareness, aka Andrew’s Law
Introduced: February 5, 2025 — Presented by Sen. Mark C. Montigny
Status (latest provided): Passed Senate (3/24/2025); delivered to House and referred to Judiciary; hearing scheduled 9/16/2025

Purpose / Intent

To strengthen school-based education and guidance about substance abuse by explicitly adding fentanyl and other synthetic opioids to required materials and by directing that guidance address specific risks, warning signs, overdose recognition, and opioid antagonist (e.g., naloxone) information. The stated goal is to reduce overdose deaths by improving awareness among students, parents/guardians, and school personnel.

Key provisions

  • Names the act “Andrew’s Law.”
  • Amends Section 96 of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws (education statute):
    • Inserts language after the first occurrence of “abuse” to read: “including but not limited to the risks of fentanyl and synthetic opioids.”
    • Replaces the last sentence of the second paragraph of Section 96 with a new mandatory minimum set of topics that guidance and recommendations must include for parents, guardians, school personnel, and students:
    • Recognizing warning signs of substance abuse.
    • The risks of using fentanyl and synthetic opioids — including comparisons of a lethal dose of fentanyl/synthetic opioids to lethal doses of other substances.
    • The mixing/lacing of fentanyl or synthetic opioids with other substances and how that can make detection impossible for users without a test strip.
    • How to detect if someone is overdosing on fentanyl or another substance.
    • The availability and proper use of naloxone or other opioid antagonists.
    • Available resources to respond to and address substance abuse.

Who is affected

  • Public school systems and school districts in Massachusetts (K–12) — by requiring that DESE-issued guidance/recommendations address fentanyl/synthetic opioids as specified.
  • Students, parents/guardians, teachers, and other school personnel — as recipients of updated education, materials, and training guidance.
  • State education agencies (e.g., the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) — expected to update guidance and recommendations to reflect the new, specific content.

Implementation and procedural notes

  • The bill amends an existing education statute (Section 96, Chapter 71 — appearing in the 2022 Official Edition).
  • No appropriation or dedicated funding is specified in the text; the bill mandates content standards for guidance but does not explicitly require distribution of naloxone or fund training programs.
  • Legislative actions recorded: introduced 2/5/2025; passed the Senate 3/24/2025; referred to Judiciary in the House; hearing scheduled for 9/16/2025 in Gardner Auditorium.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Would likely prompt DESE and school districts to revise substance abuse curricula, parent outreach materials, and staff training to include fentanyl-specific content.
  • May increase awareness of fentanyl risks and naloxone use among school communities; actual outcomes would depend on curriculum updates, training quality, and any subsequent resource allocations.
  • The bill is prescriptive about content but does not mandate distribution of testing supplies or naloxone nor provide funding for implementation.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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